1. First Quarter Process Paper

2. First of all, some tips for perfection
Don’t rely on plot summary to pad your essay.  You need to illustrate that you know your audience (Parker/Ollenburg).
There is no need to make the author feel good about his/her writing ability (either they already know or they’re dead).
Avoid phrases such as, “Hosseini shows immense talent…” and “Homer’s storytelling is so captivating and thrilling from the moment a reader begins the story…”
Avoid the use of first and second person POV (no using “I,” “you,” etc.).  Stick to academically focused analysis—not opinion.

3. Prompt
For the first process paper, you will be working and developing the response to the first timed essay you wrote for this class.
Take a look at the option you chose. What is it asking you to do??

4. Topics
Prompt 1: emphasize HOW the author creates the quest present in the literary work and the impact that makes in the novel.
Prompt 2: highlight HOW the author uses elements from other works of literature that are present in the novel—ie: explain the intertextuality found in the novel and how this influences the novel.
Option 3: underscore HOW the author sets a character apart from other characters by using a physical imperfection and how this imperfection relates to the character’s development.

5. First Step
Choose your theme and write a thesis statement for the essay
The thesis needs to:
Be specific
Encompass the entire essay
Answer a central question
Illustrate your understanding and analysis of the literature
Illustrate your personal voice as a writer

6. Thesis Draft 1 is due Tuesday, September 19
You may turn it in before Tuesday if you feel you are ready
Once received, I will read and evaluate your thesis and then return it during the next class day
Your thesis might not be approved upon first attempt:
Rewrite it until it is approved
You may turn in one attempt per day
All thesis statements must be approved by (next week, Friday)
If you struggle…advocate for your learning: use Mr. Koestler in the book room, students who took AP Lit last year, or make an appointment with me
When your thesis is approved:
You have 7 days (1 week) to write your first draft*
* Note: there are no rough drafts/“sloppy copies” in AP Literature: every attempt should be your best effort.

7. First Essay Draft
7* days from the date your thesis was approved you MUST turn in your first draft
I will then grade your essay and return it to you with comments and suggestions for revision within 1-2 class days
On the day you receive your first draft back, you will then have 7* more days to turn in a revised draft: this process will continue until you reach mastery
*Note: You do not have to use all 7 days for revisions—you may turn in your revised draft in fewer than 7 days

8. Continuous Drafts…
The draft process will continue until the essay reaches mastery:
Mastery gets an “A” in the gradebook 
First quarter, mastery is a 6 or higher by AP standards
Each draft must be re-turned-in with each new draft
This makes it easier for me to check what changes were made
All papers must obtain mastery by Friday, November 3rd
All drafts, once mastery is obtained, will be stored in a writing portfolio
If adequate progress/revision is not being made on the essay, a one-on-one conference will take place to ensure you are on the right track and can secure mastery before quarter grades are due

9. This just sounds hard. Is it possible to get an “A”?

10. You will get an A if…
You follow the revision process and make a sound effort to improve your essay with each attempt
You meet ALL due dates (these will be different for each individual)
Missing a deadline (even by one day) will result in a 5% reduction in final grade—two missed deadlines and an “A” is suddenly a “B”
Being ill/excused from class will not add days to your deadline: 7 days is always 7 days
The majority of the work for this essay is done outside of class, therefore having been in class would not have helped you finish your essay
In extreme cases, please speak to me individually ASAP: exceptions always exist
Remember: this essay is 30% of your total quarter grade

11. Your springboard to awesome-thesisness
Your thesis should answer the question posed to you in the option you chose for your first in-class essay.
Your thesis should be phrased this way (no exceptions):
(first literary technique/element), (second literary technique/ element), and (optional third literary technique/element) are used to (verb + article + noun), which (adverb + verb) a/the central idea of/that (theme).
An example thesis about Arthur Miller’s The Crucible:
Colloquial diction, hyperbole, and repetition are used to highlight the girls’ hysteria , which firmly establishes a central idea that groupthink generates destruction.

12. Homework Write your thesis statement.
Your first thesis attempt is due Tuesday!